Neyman's Smooth Test and its Applications in Econometrics

55 Pages Posted: 11 Jun 2001

See all articles by Aurobindo Ghosh

Aurobindo Ghosh

LKCSB, SMU

Anil K. Bera

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Department of Economics

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: 2001

Abstract

The following essay is a reappraisal of the role of the smooth test proposed by Neyman (1937) in the context of current applications in econometrics. We revisit the derivation of the smooth test and put it into the perspective of the existing literature on tests based on probability integral transforms suggested by early pioneers such as R.A.Fisher (1930, 1932) and Karl Pearson (1933, 1934) and the other tests for goodness-of-fit. Our discussion touches data-driven and other methods of testing and inference on the order of the smooth test and the motivation and choice of orthogonal polynomials used by Neyman and others. We review other locally most powerful unbiased tests and look at their differential geometric interpretations in terms of Gaussian curvature of the power hypersurface and review some recent advances. Finally, we venture into some applications in econometrics by evaluating density forecast calibrations discussed by Diebold, Gunther and Tay (1998) and others. We discuss the use of smooth tests in survival analysis as done by Pena (1998), Gray and Pierce (1985) and in tests based on p-values and other probability integral transforms suggested in Meng (1994). Uses in diagnostic analysis of stochastic volatility models are also mentioned. Along with our narrative of the smooth test and its various applications, we also provide some historical anecdotes and sidelights that we think interesting and instructive.

Keywords: smooth test, goodness-of-fit tests, probability integral transform, unbiased test, score test, density forecast evaluation, calibration, orthogonal polynomials, predictive density, data-driven methods

JEL Classification: C12, C52, C53

Suggested Citation

Ghosh, Aurobindo and Bera, Anil K., Neyman's Smooth Test and its Applications in Econometrics (2001). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=272888 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.272888

Aurobindo Ghosh (Contact Author)

LKCSB, SMU ( email )

50 Stamford Road
SMU-LKCSB, #04-01
Singapore, 178899
Singapore

Anil K. Bera

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Department of Economics ( email )

410 David Kinley Hall
1407 W. Gregory
Urbana, IL 61801
United States
217-333-4596 (Phone)
217-244-6678 (Fax)

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